The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-06-16
AMONG THE oYPslEs.
A Time OF Day When They Give TheMF
selves Up to Unrestrained Enjoyment.

A Time Of Day When They Give TheMf
selves Up to Unrestrained Enjoyment
Probably at meals and in the long
evenings, bright with camp-fires and
melodious with merriment. is the Gypsy
man or woman most truly this good
natured and genial animal that never
reveals meanness and ever acts with
genuine, unstudied goodness. The
breakfast, though always a meal OF
CHEEKY brightness. is taken with little
iollity, for the duties and doings of the
day are ahead of them all. The dinner
is seldom regular meal, for there are
but few in camp, and the old men, old
women, children and dogs have every
thing their own way. But the supper
is overfowing with good things and
good spirits, and all sorts of pranks are
allowable. The camp has suddenly
filled up with three-fourths of its menu
bers, who have been away during the
day on divers expeditions, and the
breeziness and activity consequent upon
the return have brought the camp
wonderful life and vigor. The substan-
| tials for the meal have been Sizing
and simmering from the kettle-sticks
for hours. These are all accounted
for; but there is an element Of
pleasure and surprise in many lit
tie garnishments which find their way
| into camp with the incoming troop Of
Gypsies. The enthusiastically rubber
blankets with linen spreads upon them
are laid upon the clean grass plats;
every body helps at bringing the dishes
and food; laughter and badinage go
hand in hand with preparation; and the
repast itself, be it sumptuous, as it
often is, or meager, as it is not often, is
washed down by more genuine mirth
and hearty merriment-and, / must
confess, with something thought
stronger, sometimes falls to the lot
of but few in this world, however much
good fortune enters into their condition.
II stragglers from town come and
stare at them with exasperating calm
ness, as though the Gypsies were ami
mails in some geological garden,
sudden hush falls upon the feast until
the intruders retire, or the merriment
goes on in their own tongue and under
faces of ridiculous solemnity. From the
return, however, until the long, slowly
taken meal is ended, there are such
rallyings Of friends. such greetings of
husbands and, wives, brothers and
sisters, parents and children, such
kindly notice of the old, old folk, such
revelry with babies, and such proud,
glad heart-word for every body, that no
earnest eyes can look upon it all and not
moisten, because all this is so true of an
outcast race, and so barren and meager
in the homes of our own people, where
too often insincerity, ambition and
heartlessness have taken the place OF
, those tender things which are the saliva
ton of land through its homes
Then the eventime grows and glows
again with this good nature. There il
not another care or thought-weight or
the Gypsy's mind. All give themselves
up to unrestrained enjoyment The
great fires are piled high, and seem te
crackle and sing an added accompani
ment of happiness. High up along the
tree-trunks are hung cressets filled with
! fiaring knots. The fires below shu
J out even the light of the blazing stars
above, and draw the night and dark
: lovingly interlaced with century-olt
tree-arms, over the bright place like a
protecting canopy. BY this campfire
{ is crowd merrily playing at cards
which the Gypsies love. By anothe
8 and another are groups telling old tale
or singing old songs. In between ant
!, all about are happy children playing a
hide-and-seek in the flash and shadov
' of the camp. Over there are q score O
: tawny forms dancing with the freedom
and gayety of lads and lasses to tn
4 music of some tinker violinist VIII
, sways and weaves and stamps an,
d shouts. enraptured by his own vociferou
e melodies. Everywhere are simple
;, hearted peace and content.-Edgar {
Wakeman, IN Chicago Necs.
: -"Should white company salute
colored company when passing it O
the marchp" has been one of the ques
tions propounded by military tactician
recently. This reminds us of an oil
. story. General Washington was wall
ing down Pennsylvania avenue in tn
city of Washington one day when b
. was met by negro, who bowed to hin
The General bowed politely in return
what, Mr.. President, said an az
quaintance, ..do you bow to negrop
, 'Sir," replied Washington, "do 20
> think would allow a negro to outd
me in politenessp" And the negrot
!. were then slaves, and Washingto
= owned a good many of them.-M'
= Bale Register.
g. The Richmond Religious Herdl
N thinks that good many preacher
10 might profit by the criticism of an ol
deacon who when asked how certai
at candidate pleased him answered: '.N'
sp at all. There is but one thing again
him. but that is enough. He thinks tt